Ditching-machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. LGRANT, T. M. MGGLELLAND 8v J. T. DRUMMOND.

DITGHING MACHINE. .l No. 259,304. Patented June 13, 1882.

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J. A. GRANT, T. M. MGGLELLAND 8v J. T. DRUMMOND.

DITGHING MACHINE.

No. 259,304. Patented June 13, 1882:.

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||lllllllllllllllllllllIHIHIIIITllIIIl-lllllllllllll ,ffm /MJSDMMM'ML N. PEYERSv Pnownnwgmpher. wnshingm D a Nrn@ rArns JAMES A. GRANT, THOMAS M. MCOLELLAND, AND JAMES T. DRUMMOND,

OF MOUNT PLEASANT, IOWA.

DITCHINGTMACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 259,304, dated June 13, 1882.

Appncauon nieaoseptenber 22, reso. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JAMES A. GRANT, THOMAS MCGLELLAND, and J AMES T. DRUMMOND, all citizens of the United States, residing at Mount Pleasant, in the county of Henry and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ditching-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to an improvement in that cla-ss of ditching-machines designed more particularly for making tile-drains, being so constructed as to plow, elevate the dirt, and deposit it at the sides of the ditch by successively repeating its operation until the proper depth of ditch is attained, and has for its object a more effective and improved method and mechanism for cutting or plowing a ditch and finishing it, so as to have its bottom level or properly graded for drainage, and also for elevating and depositing the dirt at the sides of lthe ditch, 4than have hitherto been known.

Our invention consists, first, in a plow with its cutting-edge ofa depressed V shape, being also dilated at that point, and having a rearward termination in an upward curved trough, slightly diverging from a true circle, and provided also with one or more detachable segments or sections to be attached in lengthening said trough,as the depth of ditch is increased, for the purpose of conducting the dirt from the plow to the surface beside the ditch.

It consists, second, in an elevating-wheel, a little less in diameter than the inner radial dimensions of said trough, which is loosely pivoted to the adjustable frame-work of the plow, and is provided with a series of scrapers and check-braces, all pivoted to its periphery for lrhe purpose of revolving said wheel by means of coming in contact with the ground forward of and in the plow during the forward movement of the machine. Said scrapers also, as the wheel is revolved, elevate the dirt from the plow by scraping it up the curved trough in rear, from whence it falls in a lateral-issuing guidechute, and is .deposited at the side of the ditch.

It consists, third, in a leveling device made to attach in rear ofthe plow or elevating-trough, so as to travel in the bottom ofthe ditch,which has a spirit-level arranged on standards hav ing graduating-scales attached thereto, so as to indicate the degree or angle of pitch in tinishing the bottom of ditches.

It consists, fourth, in mechanism herein shown for simultaneously raising or lowering all of said parts to suitthe varied requirements .leveling device of the machine; Fig. 6, the upright frame orguide,-standards supporting and through the internal grooves of which the main plow-frame slides in its vertical adjustments. Fig. 7 is the center stirrup of the adjustable frame carrying the plow, and is also the support of the elevator-wheel, which is pivoted in it, and also of the elevatortrough,which is attached to it by means of braces and bolts or otherwise, so that when its height is regulated all of said parts move together. Fig. 8 is the plow, forming also part of the elevating-trough. Fig. 9 is a detachable section of the elevator trough. Fig. 10 is a segment of the elevatingwheel. Fig. 11 is one ofthe Scrapers, and Fig. 12 a check-brace. One of each of the latter two gures is pivoted to each set of the lugs on the periphery of the wheel, Fig. 10. Fig. 13 is an upright frame or vertical trackway, rigidly fastened to the forward part of the side pieces of the main frame of the machine, for the purpose of guiding and forming a bearing for the traveler, shown at Fig. 14, which traveler, being suspended by a rope playing over a pulley atthe top of the frame, Fig. 13, plays vertically in the rabbets formed in the front edges of the-side pieces of said frame. It constitutes an adjustable device,to which is attached the forward draft of the plow. Fig. 15 is a bifurcated draft-bar connecting with the extensions at the forward part of the plow, Fig. S, and with the shaft of the traveler, Fig. 14, thus obtaining an adjustable draft for the IOO plow from the forward part of themachine. Fig. 16 is a pair of rolling cutters to be placed in the bearings formed in the projections eX- tending from the forks ofthe draft-bar, Fig. 15.

In the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all,'dotted lines representing parts hid from view, A is the main supporting frame-work of the ma chine, which rests on and is carried by wheels arranged on axles in the usual way.

A is an upright frame, rigidly fastened and braced to the side frame-pieces, A, the further use and description of which have been given in describing Fig. G.

A is also an upright frame, fastened and braced to the frame A near its forward end,

which has also been further described in the illustration, Fig. 13.

B is the main supporting-stirrup or center adjustable frame-work of the plow and elevating mechanism. It is suspended by a rope passing over one of the pulleys X at the top ofthe frame A. Said rope extends back and connects with the windlass Il. The lower end of said stirrup extends around underneath and is rigidly fastened to the plow C, and to it are also fastened braces S, supporting said plow both fore and aft, as well as also the elevatingtrough consisting of C and C. (See further the description of Fig. 7

C is the plow, constituting also part of the curved elevating-trough for conducting the plowed dirt out of the ditch. It is formed in shape transversely, having a depressed center approximating a letter V, which shape serves a double purpose: ijrst, for cutting the dirt in an angular shape, so that it will easily yield in passing the contraction of the sides of the plow in rear of its cutting-edge 5 and, secondly, for finishing a ditch with a center depression adapted for the convenient reception of tile. Said plow is dilated at its forward part or cutting-edge for the purpose of enlarging the ditch, so as to admit freely of the passage of the necessary frame-work. Its rear portion and upper edges are also curved upward, forming an arca little larger and slightly divergiug from the periphery of the wheel I),

thus forming part of the conducting-trough for elevating dirt.v

C is a detachable section of the elevating trough, being made to t, and is fastened by bolting or otherwise, to the upper and rear end of the plow and trough-piece C, being thus constructed with sectional partings in said trough in order to obviate the necessity of raising the discharged dirt to an unnecessary height while making a shallow ditch. Said detachable sections may be multiplied as circumstances may require.

D is the elevating-wheel,- which is pivoted in the stirrup or frame B, and is provided with projecting lugs t', arranged in pairs on its periphery, to which are loosely pivoted thescrapers e, Fig. l1, and the eheck-bracesf, Fig. 12. The hinge part of said scrapers work outside of said lugs and the check-braces between them. Said scrapers and braces, when free from contact with the dirt, adjust themselves by their own gravity. The braces j', being curved with a short bend near their pivot end as a suitable shape, are attached so as to fold respectively in rear of the Scrapers as relates to the revolving motion of said wheel. The Scrapers e in approaching the plow in their downward movement so gravitate as to cause their arms successively to take in between the upper edges of the plow and the periphery of the wheel, thus assuming a position pointing outward and a little forward of a line radiating from the center of said wheel D, so that their points will strike the ground in proper position, and will, as said wheel revolves in its forward movement, press them directly point forward into the ground, and by being thus held while passing over the plow and edges of the trough C and C', they elevate the plowed dirt by scraping it upward in said trough to where it is discharged, when by their own gravity they fall backward, discharging the dirt. The check-braces f also fall over with their points striking the ground forward of said wheel, when, by means of both the check-brace and scraper, whose arms are limited in their rearward movement, coming in contact with the ground, and by a forward movement of the machine, the wheel is rolled forward and the scraper pressed into the ground, and thereby the plowed dirt is elevated through the curved trough fordeposit beside of the ditch; also, as the machine is advanced the cheek-braces are made to yield by pressure of the dirt, so as to fold within the recesses made for them in the rim of the wheel.

Z is a concave chute, hung to the frame-work in a diagonal. position crosswise of the machine, in rear of and under the discharging end of thevelevating-trough, for the purpose of catching the dirt as it falls and for conducting it to the sides of the ditch.

E is a traveler having friction-rollers b for traveling in the rabbets of the frame A", Fig. 13, as the machine is raised or lowered, and by its connection with the plow by means of the bar I it becomes an adjustable draft for said plow.

F is the leveling device, partly described in describing Fig. 5. It is provided with a hinge joint at its forward end for coupling to a projection, c, on the rear of the plow C or C', as the case may be. Itis also provided with a wheel, F', for traveling in the ditch, and with lateral projections or their equivalents on its sides for guiding said wheel F' at all times to the center of said ditch. It is steadied in its upright position by means of rods or bars o, projecting from the frame A backward past its sides. It is also provided with a spirit-level arranged on its horizontal beam, being fixed to two upward-projectin g arms from said beam, each of said arms having a graduating-scale for xing said level to any desired degree of inclination or declination from a true level for IOO IOS 

